National Academies Offers Human Mars Exploration Science Priorities

Mark Carreau December 10, 2025
NASA's top priorities for future Mars exploration missions should be the search for current or past evidence for biological activity or the presence of prebiotic chemistry, the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering and Medicine urges in a new report. The 241-page document details 11 items on the priority list that should be pursued during the first three envisioned human Mars exploration missions.

Artist's concept of NASA astronauts on Mars. 

Credit: NASA
HOUSTON—NASA’s top priorities for future Mars exploration missions should be the search for current or past evidence for biological activity or the presence of prebiotic chemistry, the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering and Medicine urges in a new report. The 241-page document details 11...
Mark Carreau

Mark is based in Houston, where he has written on aerospace for more than 25 years. While at the Houston Chronicle, he was recognized by the Rotary National Award for Space Achievement Foundation in 2006 for his professional contributions to the public understanding of America's space program through news reporting.

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